People are noticing that the water level in the Main Pool is R-E-A-L-L-Y  L-O-W.  Much lower than would be expected this time of year with the approaching waterfowl migration. If you remember a few weeks ago I shared with you that the staff is trying to correct some issues with the spillway water control structure. They are working on it but are having some difficulty.  They too are aware of the impending migration and are doing their very best to get it fixed ASAP.

 Yesterday morning Pete and I headed over to Towpath Road to get down to the cross dike between Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes for our survey.  The Canal Corp has been clearing the road to accommodate a large piece of equipment that they need to get down near the east end of Puddler Marsh. Towpath was basically a sea of mud at the west end.  HOLY COW!! We decided not to chance getting stuck and turned around.  So, a word of caution, rethink driving Towpath for a while.  You may be able to walk around the really gooey part to get to the section they haven’t yet cleared. Good luck and be careful!!

  The Visitors’ Center Wetland seems to be the shorebird hot spot with the largest numbers and varieties.  It is great because they are close to the entrance drive and pretty easy to see. Due to the dry conditions we did not find any shorebirds near the spillway as we have for so many weeks. There were some mixed in with the ducks way out near the cattails.  However, they would be difficult to see and identify with bins.

  I’m including a couple of pics of some currently blooming wildflowers seen around the Wildlife Drive and other parts of the Refuge.  The yellow ones are bidens or commonly known as beggars tick.  There is a huge, beautiful display on the left side just past the spillway, before the photo blind parking area. The blossoms are fantastic for pollinators and the seeds are great food for waterfowl.  Many folks do not like bidens because the seeds stick to their clothing and are extremely difficult to remove. The gorgeous purple flowers are New England asters.  They are fantastic for pollinators as the blossoms of summer wildflowers fade. The great news is that New England asters and many species of bidens are native to North America, YAY!! 

 The additional pics are of the spillway bald eagles, showing the size difference between a male (left) and a female (right); the trumpeter swan family resting; the cygnets resting; some double crested cormorants and gulls on the mud all at Knox-Marsellus Marsh and a black-crowned night heron in a tree near Puddler Marsh.

  Hopefully, you can get out soon to explore and experience all the amazing things at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex trails, towers and the Refuge Wildlife Drive.  Dogs on a leash are only allowed in and around the Refuge Visitors’ Center and on the Seneca Trail.

ENJOY, be respectful and safe.